Fuchsia plant named &#39;volfuc 6054&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Fuchsia  plant named ‘VOLFUC 6054’, characterized by its relatively compact, mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely flowering habit; and light red purple and violet blue-colored flowers.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Fuchsia×hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘VOLFUC 6054’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fuchsiaplant botanically known as Fuchsia×hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘VOLFUC 6054’.

The new Fuchsia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Muenster, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Fuchsiaplants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Fuchsia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2009 in Muenster, Germany of two unidentified proprietaryselections of Fuchsia×hybrida, not patented. The new Fuchsia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Muenster, Germany in 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Fuchsia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled environment in Muenster, Germany since 2010 hasshown that the unique features of this new Fuchsia plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Fuchsia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘VOLFUC 6054’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘VOLFUC 6054’ as a new and distinct Fuchsiaplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, mounding to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Light red purple and violet blue-colored flowers.

The new Fuchsia plant can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Fuchsia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia are more mounding than and not as        trailing as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia are more freely flowering than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have pink and white-colored flowers.

The new Fuchsia plant can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Fuchsia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia are more mounding than and not as        upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have blue and white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Fuchsia can be compared to plants of Fuchsia‘Kiefuzak’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,764. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Muenster, Germany, plants of the new Fuchsiaand ‘Kiefuzak’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Fuchsia were slightly taller than plants of        ‘Kiefuzak’.    -   2. Plants of the new Fuchsia were not as pendulous as plants of        ‘Kiefuzak’.    -   3. Plants of the new Fuchsia were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Kiefuzak’.    -   4. Plants of the new Fuchsia had smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Kiefuzak’.    -   5. Plants of the new Fuchsia and ‘Kiefuzak’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Kiefuzak’ had light red and purple-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Fuchsia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Fuchsia. The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘VOLFUC 6054’ grown in a container.The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘VOLFUC 6054’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 12-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Muenster, Germany and under culturalpractices typically used in commercial production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 15° to 18° C. and light levels ranged from5,000 to 40,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time and were six monthsold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2005 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fuchsia×hybrida ‘VOLFUC 6054’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Fuchsia×hybrida, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Fuchsia×hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one to two weeks at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 30 days at            temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; yellowish white in color,            actual color will depend on substrate components.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            mounding to trailing growth habit; freely branching habit            with about ten to twelve primary lateral branches each with            multiple secondary and tertiary lateral branches developing            per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development;            dense and bushy plant form; moderately vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 25 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly arching to            trailing.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 59A to 59B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate, elongate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate to dentate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves and fully expanded, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,            close to 137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary flowers;            flowers radially symmetrical; flowers initially upright and            then pendulous; freely flowering habit, typically one to two            flowers develop per leaf axil; at one time, about 140 to 160            flowers per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; flowering            recurrent from mid-April through October in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Flower height (depth).—About 4.5 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm to 20 mm. Diameter: About 3            mm to 13 mm. Shape: Oblong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Initially, close to 145C becoming closer to 53C with            development.        -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: Typically            twelve petals arranged in about two or three whorls; petals            imbricate. Petal length: About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Petal            width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Petal shape: Cordate. Petal            apex: Obtuse. Petal base: Attenuate. Petal margin: Entire.            Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Petal color: When opening and fully opened, inner            surface: Close to 94B; color becoming closer to 81B with            development. When opening and fully opened, outer surface:            Close to 94B; color becoming closer to 81B with development.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Typically four            sepals arranged in a single whorl and fused at the base;            calyx star-shaped. Sepal length: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Sepal            width: About 1 cm to 1.3 cm. Sepal shape: Elongate oblong;            flat to reflexed. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Sepal color: When opening and fully            opened, inner surface: Close to 57C; color does not fade            with development. When opening and fully opened, outer            surface: Close to 57C; color does not fade with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Aspect: Arching to horizontal. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 165A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Nine per flower.            Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.            Anther color: Close to 58A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 8C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Style            length: About 1.5 cm to 3 cm. Style color: Close to 54D.            Stigma shape: Ovate, elongated. Stigma color: Close to 18C.            Ovary color: Green.        -   Fruits.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Light purple.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 163B.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 33° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Fuchsia have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Fuchsia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Fuchsia plant named ‘VOLFUC 6054’as illustrated and described.